Gæti þetta verið sagan af því hvernig Hairy Mary varð til? „Sir Horace Winstrople is said to have designed the Hairy Mary, and in some ways tis true he was responsible. Ya see, Sir Horace liked to use more than his fishing rod when on holidays. But alas one particular autum he got carried away with himself, twas too much drink that caused his discretion with the tinker girl , young Mary O’Brien with the flaming brown hair. Come the following March Sir Horace was back for a few springers, and poor Mary was heavy with child. Flanagan the Ghillie in his own discreet way mentioned it in passing to Sir Horace that „isnt a shame about poor Mary, and no money to raise a child“, but his lordship wasn’t biting. Flanagan , not easily deterred came up with a scheme. He arranged that Sir Horaces favorite pools be netted early every morning and all the pools for 2 miles below to be netted likewise. After a few days his lordship got very frustrated – not a fish to be seen. Flanagan told him that he had a new fly that he guaranteed would catch him a fish within three days – but the fly had a secret ingredient, and Sir Horace would have to agree to the asking price if the fly proved its worth. Sir Horace agreed, the netting ceased immediately . On the second day the new Fly accounted for 4 of the finest spring salmon , the smallest being 14lb. Now Sir Horace , says Flanagan there’s the small matter of the new Fly. Off course says sir Horace taking a guinea from his wallet . No says Flanagan, 500 Guineas is the price, and its cheap at that. 500 GUINEAS, bellowed Sir Horace – for a blooody fly, have you gone mad Flanagan. Ah but Sir Horace, thats no ordinary fly, thats a Hairy Mary – and tis said that neither man or fish is safe from her charms – twould be wise for all concerned sir if you paid the asking price. And so was born the Hairy Mary – fished by few but there’s one in everyone’s fly box.„
